Image reading apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image reading apparatus includes a transparent member having a placement surface on which a document is to be placed, a reading unit configured to read an image of the document placed on the transparent member via the transparent member, and a reading mode in which an image of a document, placed in a holding member with a transparent portion, is read. The document to be read is placed in the holding member so as to be visible via the transparent portion and the holding member is placed on the placement surface with the transparent portion of the holding member in contact with the placement surface. A processor detects an edge in an image acquired by the reading unit in the reading mode, and to extract an image surrounded by an edge detected in an area surrounded by an edge corresponding to the holding member in the reading mode.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an image reading apparatus that cutsout images of a plurality of documents from an image including theplurality of documents.

Description of the Related Art

Some typically known image reading apparatuses perform processing ofreading images of a plurality of documents placed on a documentpositioning glass plate, detecting edges of the plurality documents froman image including the images of the plurality of documents, and cuttingout the images of the plurality of documents based on the edges(Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-10059). FIG. 18A is adiagram illustrating a read image in a case where images of threedocuments placed on a document positioning glass plate have been read.FIG. 18B illustrates images having been subjected to the processingdiscussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-10059 on theread image. Performing of the processing discussed in Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2002-10059 outputs images of documents in astate where each image is cut out as illustrated in FIG. 18B.

In recent years, there has been increased opportunities to digitizesales slips, such as receipts. For example, a plurality of receipts isdigitized by reading the plurality of receipts placed on a documentpositioning glass plate and performing the processing discussed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-10059. A receipt islikely to be curved (curled) because it is a document made of a roll ofpaper on which an image is formed. Thus, it takes time and effort toplace a plurality of curved documents on a document positioning glassplate. Placing the plurality of documents on the document positioningglass plate one by one also requires time and effort.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 18C, placing a transparent document folderthat holds a plurality of documents, such as receipts, on the documentpositioning glass plate and reading the documents in the transparentdocument folder may be considered. However, the following issue ariseswhen the transparent document folder holding the plurality of documents,such as receipts, is used to read the documents and the processingdiscussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-10059 isperformed on the read image. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 18D,an image is cut out based on the edge of the transparent documentfolder, so that images of documents A, B, and C are output as a singleimage. In other words, typical image reading apparatuses cannot cut outindividual images of documents from an image including the images of thedocuments read by using the transparent document folder. Thus, with thetypical image reading apparatuses, a plurality of documents is to beplaced on the document positioning glass plate one by one without usingthe transparent document folder in order to cut out the individualimages of the documents from an image including the images of thedocument.

SUMMARY

In consideration of the above-described issue, the present disclosuregenerally relates to an image reading apparatus capable of easilycutting out individual images of documents from an image that includesthe images of the documents.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image readingapparatus includes a transparent member having a placement surface onwhich a document is to be placed, a reading unit configured to read animage of the document placed on the transparent member via thetransparent member; and at least one processor configured to detect anedge in an image acquired by the reading unit in a reading mode, andextract an image surrounded by an edge, detected in an area surroundedby an edge corresponding to a holding member, in the reading mode. Theholding member has a transparent portion and the document to be read isplaced in the holding member so as to be visible via the transparentportion, and the holding member is placed on the placement surface withthe transparent portion of the holding member in contact with theplacement surface.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingapparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of adocument reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of areading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a controlconfiguration of the image forming apparatus.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating a configuration for detectingan angle of a pressing plate with respect to the reading apparatus withan opening-closing detection sensor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining a size of adocument placed on a document positioning glass plate.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing for detecting a size of adocument.

FIG. 8 is a table illustrating a method for detecting a document size.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are diagrams illustrating processing for detecting anedge of an image.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating processing for detecting adocument edge candidate.

FIGS. 11A to 11D are diagrams illustrating processing for determining anedge of a document.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a normal multi-cropping mode (firstmulti-cropping mode).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an area on which processing fordetermining an edge of a document according to a first exemplaryembodiment is performed.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a filed document multi-cropping mode(second multi-cropping mode) according to the first exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a screen for setting a size in thefiled document multi-cropping mode.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state where a transparent documentfolder is placed on a document positioning glass plate with thetransparent document folder abutting on a first abutting portion and asecond abutting portion.

FIGS. 17A to 17C are diagrams illustrating processing for determining anedge of a document according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 18A to 18D are diagrams illustrating processing for cutting out animage according to a typical technique.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosurewill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Shapesand relative positions of constituent elements described in theexemplary embodiments should be changed as appropriate depending on aconfiguration and various conditions of an apparatus to which thepresent disclosure is applied, and the scope of the present disclosureis not limited to the below-described exemplary embodiments.

[Image Forming Apparatus]

A first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedbelow. FIG. 1 is a sectional diagram illustrating a configuration of anelectrophotographic color copying machine (hereinafter, referred to asimage forming apparatus) 100 employed in the present exemplaryembodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to a copyingmachine, and may be a facsimile apparatus, a printing apparatus, or aprinter. A recording method is not limited to the electrophotographicrecording method, and may be an ink jet recording method. Further, theimage forming apparatus 100 may form an image in either a monochromaticformat or a color format.

Hereinafter, a configuration and a function of the image formingapparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 . Asillustrated in FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus 100 includes adocument reading apparatus 200 including a document feeding apparatus201 and a reading apparatus 202 and an image printing apparatus 301.

<Document Reading Apparatus>

Documents P stacked on a document stacking portion 2 of the documentfeeding apparatus 201 are fed by a pick-up roller 3 one by one, andfurther conveyed downstream by a feeding roller 4. A separation roller 5in pressure contact with the feeding roller 4 is disposed at a positionfacing the feeding roller 4. The separation roller 5 rotates when a loadtorque greater than or equal to a predetermined torque is appliedthereto, and has a function of separating two documents fed in anoverlapping state.

The pick-up roller 3 and the feeding roller 4 are coupled to each otherwith a swinging arm 12. The swinging arm 12 is supported by a rotatingshaft of the feeding roller 4 to be rotatable about the rotating shaft.

Each of the documents P is conveyed by the feeding roller 4 anddischarged to a discharge tray 10 by discharge rollers 11.

A reading unit 16 for reading an image of a first face of a conveyeddocument is disposed on the reading apparatus 202. The reading unit 16includes a light-emitting diode (LED) 110, an image sensor 111, and agroup of optical components 112. The image sensor 111 includes aplurality of light receiving elements for receiving light of red (R),green (G), and blue (B), disposed in a main scanning direction, which isa direction corresponding to a width direction orthogonal to aconveyance direction in which the document is conveyed. The reading unit16 reads an image of a surface (first surface) of a document as follows.The LED 110 serving as a light source emits light to irradiate thesurface of the document with light via a reading glass 108. The group ofoptical components 112 receives light reflected on the document via thereading glass 108, and guides the light to the image sensor 111. Theimage sensor 111 outputs analog image data based on the received light.The image sensor 111 simultaneously reads an image corresponding to oneline in the main scanning direction. Thus, the image sensor 111 canoutput image data including data of the entire document by reading animage corresponding to one line for a plurality of times while thedocument is being conveyed.

A reading unit 17 for reading an image of a second face of the conveyeddocument is disposed on the document feeding apparatus 201. Aconfiguration of the reading unit 17 is similar to that of the readingunit 16, so that descriptions thereof are omitted.

A document is read thereby as described above.

Reading methods of documents include a document-feeding-reading methodand a pressing plate reading method. In the document-feeding-readingmethod, an image of a conveyed document is read through theabove-described method. In the pressing plate reading method, an imageof a document placed on a document positioning glass plate 214 of thereading apparatus 202 is read by the reading unit 16 which is moved at acertain speed in the sub-scanning direction (i.e., a rightward directionin FIG. 1 ) corresponding to the conveyance direction in which thedocument is conveyed. Typically, images of documents in sheet form areread with the document-feeding-reading method, and images of bounddocuments, such as a book and a booklet, are read with the pressingplate reading method.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration of thedocument reading apparatus 200. In FIG. 2 , illustration of the documentfeeding apparatus 201 is omitted.

The document feeding apparatus 201 is pivotable with respect to thereading apparatus 202 between the opening position at which the documentpositioning glass plate 214 is exposed and the closed position at whichthe document positioning glass plate 214 is covered by the pressingplate 18. The document feeding apparatus 201 includes the pressing plate18 configured to press the document placed on the document positioningglass plate 214 toward the document positioning glass plate 214 at theclosed position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram illustrating a configuration of thereading apparatus 202. The reading apparatus 202 includes a readingglass 108, a document positioning glass plate 214, a reading unit 16, areading guide 215, a motor 222 for moving the reading unit 16 in thesub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, adocument size detection sensor 216, and an opening-closing detectionsensor 217.

The motor 222 moves the reading unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction(from the left to right in FIG. 3 ) and the reading unit 16 reads adocument placed on the document positioning glass plate 214 with thepressing plate reading method. The reading unit 16 is guided by thereading guide 215 to be moved in the sub-scanning direction.

A size of the document placed on the document positioning glass plate214 is determined based on a reading result obtained by the reading unit16 and a detection result obtained by the document size detection sensor216. More specifically, a length in the main scanning direction of thedocument placed on the document positioning glass plate 214 isdetermined based on the reading result obtained by the reading unit 16,and a length in the sub-scanning direction of the document placed on thedocument positioning glass plate 214 is determined based on thedetection result obtained by the document size detection sensor 216. Forexample, a known sensor including a light emitting portion and a lightreceiving portion may be used as the document size detection sensor 216.

<Image Printing Apparatus>

A sheet storage tray 14 for storing a recording medium is disposedinside the image printing apparatus 301. The recording medium is amaterial on which an image is to be formed by the image formingapparatus 100. Examples of the recording medium include a sheet ofpaper, a resin sheet, a fabric, an overhead projector (OHP) sheet, and alabel.

A recording medium stored in the sheet storage tray 14 is fed by apick-up roller 19, and conveyed to registration rollers 20 by, forexample, conveyance rollers 39, 40, 41, and 42.

The image printing apparatus 301 further includes a manual sheet feedingtray 44 for stacking recording media. A recording medium stacked on themanual sheet feeding tray 44 is fed by pick-up rollers 43 and conveyedto the registration rollers 20 by, for example, the conveyance rollers42.

A leading end of a recording medium conveyed by pre-registration rollers37 comes into contact with the registration rollers 20. As a result, aloop is formed on the recording medium at a position between theregistration rollers 20 and the pre-registration rollers 37, so thatskew of the recording medium is corrected (reduced).

Image signals output from the document reading apparatus 200 areindividually input, by color component basis, to optical scanningdevices 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K including semiconductor lasers andpolygon mirrors. More specifically, an image signal relating to a yellowcolor component output from the document reading apparatus 200 is inputto the optical scanning device 21Y, and an image signal relating to amagenta color component output from the document reading apparatus 200is input to the optical scanning device 21M. An image signal relating toa cyan color component output from the document reading apparatus 200 isinput to the optical scanning device 21C, and an image signal relatingto a black color component output from the document reading apparatus200 is input to the optical scanning device 21K. Hereinafter,constituent elements for forming a yellow image will be described, andthe constituent elements for forming magenta, cyan, and black images aresimilar to those for yellow.

An outer circumferential surface of a photosensitive drum 22Y is chargedby a charging device 23Y. After the outer circumferential surface of thephotosensitive drum 22Y is charged, laser light in accordance with theimage signal input to the optical scanning device 21Y from the documentreading apparatus 200 is emitted to the outer circumferential surface ofthe photosensitive drum 22Y from the optical scanning device 21Y via theoptical members, such as the polygon mirror and the mirror. Thus, anelectrostatic latent image is formed on the outer circumferentialsurface of the photosensitive drum 22Y.

Subsequently, a development device 24Y serving as a development unitdevelops the electrostatic latent image with toner, so that a tonerimage is formed on the outer circumferential surface of thephotosensitive drum 22Y. The toner image formed on the photosensitivedrum 22Y is transferred to a transfer belt 27 serving as an intermediatetransfer member by a transfer roller 25Y disposed at a position facingthe photosensitive drum 22Y. Toner remaining on the outercircumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y after the tonerimage is transferred to the transfer belt 27 is collected by a cleaningunit 26Y.

The toner images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black transferred to thetransfer belt 27 are transferred to a recording medium by a transferroller pair 28. High voltage that is applied to the transfer roller pair28 causes the toner images to be transferred to the recording medium.The registration rollers 20 convey the recording medium to the transferroller pair 28 in synchronization with this transfer timing.

The recording medium on which a toner image is transferred as describedabove is conveyed to a fixing device 29 serving as a fixing unit, sothat the fixing device 29 applies heat and pressure to the recordingmedium to fix the toner image onto the recording medium. Thus, the imageforming apparatus 100 forms an image on the recording medium.

In a case where image formation is performed in a one-sided printingmode, the recording medium having passed through the fixing device 29 isdischarged to a discharge tray 31 by discharge rollers 30. In a casewhere image formation is performed in a two-sided printing mode, thefixing device 29 performs the fixing processing on the first surface ofthe recording medium, and the recording medium is then conveyed to areversing path 32 by reversing rollers 38. The first surface and thesecond surface of the recording medium conveyed to the reversing path 32are reversed by the reversing rollers 38. The recording medium is thenconveyed to a conveyance guide where conveyance rollers 33, 34, 35, and36 are disposed. The recording medium is conveyed to the registrationrollers 20 again by the conveyance rollers 33, 34, 35, and 36, and animage is formed on the second surface of the recording medium with theabove-described method. Thereafter, the recording medium is dischargedto the discharge tray 31 by the discharge rollers 30.

The configuration and the functions of the image forming apparatus 100are described as the above.

<Control Configuration> [Control Configuration of Image PrintingApparatus]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a controlconfiguration of the image forming apparatus 100. Initially, a controlconfiguration of the image printing apparatus 301 will be described.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , a system controller 151 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 151 a, a read only memory (ROM) 151 b, and arandom access memory (RAM) 151 c. The system controller 151 is connectedto an analog to digital (A/D) conversion unit 153, a high voltagecontrol unit 155, a motor control device 600, sensors 159, and analternate current (AC) driver 160. The system controller 151 cancommunicate data and commands with the respective units connectedthereto.

The CPU 151 a reads and performs various programs stored in the ROM 151b to perform various sequences relating to a predetermined image formingsequence.

The RAM 151 c serves as a storage device. For example, various types ofdata such as a setting value for the high voltage control unit 155 andan instruction value for the motor control device 600 are stored in theRAM 151 c.

The system controller 151 receives signals from the sensors 159, andsets a setting value for the high voltage control unit 155 based on thereceived signals.

According to the setting value set by the system controller 151, thehigh voltage control unit 155 supplies necessary voltage to high voltageunits 156 (e.g., a charging device 23Y, a development device 24Y, and atransfer charging device).

According to an instruction output from the CPU 151 a, the motor controldevice 600 controls a motor 509 for driving a load, disposed on theimage printing apparatus 301.

The A/D conversion unit 153 receives a detection signal output by athermistor 154 for detecting a temperature of a fixing heater 161,converts the detection signal to a digital signal from an analog signal,and transmits the digital signal to the system controller 151. Thesystem controller 151 controls the AC driver 160 based on the digitalsignal received from the A/D conversion unit 153. The AC driver 160controls the fixing heater 161 to set a temperature of the fixing heater161 to a temperature sufficient for performing fixing processing. Thefixing heater 161 is included in the fixing device 29, and used forperforming fixing processing.

The system controller 151 controls the operation sequence of the imageforming apparatus 100 as described above.

[Control Configuration of Document Reading Apparatus]

Next, a control configuration of the document reading apparatus 200 willbe described. A CPU 401 performs a program stored in a non-volatilememory 402 to control the document reading apparatus 200.

An operation unit 403 provides a user interface. The CPU 401 controlsthe operation unit 403 to display an operation screen on a display uniton the operation unit 403. In the operation screen, a user makessettings of, for example, a type of recording media (hereinafter,referred to as sheet type) to be used. The CPU 401 receives informationabout settings made by the user from the operation unit 403 and outputsthe information about the settings made by the user to the systemcontroller 151. The system controller 151 transmits informationindicating a state of the image forming apparatus 100 to the operationunit 403. Examples of the information indicating a state of the imageforming apparatus 100 includes information about the number of sheets onwhich images are to be formed, information about a progress status ofimage forming processing, and information about jamming of sheets orerroneous conveyance of sheets overlapping each other occurring in theimage printing apparatus 301 or the document feeding apparatus 201. Theoperation unit 403 displays the information received from the systemcontroller 151 on the display unit.

Image data output from each of the reading units 16 and 17 is input toan image processing unit 404. The image processing unit 404 convertsanalog image data to digital image data. The digital image data has ahigher value with greater intensity of reflected light. Hereinafter, alevel of this value is expressed as a luminance value. The imageprocessing unit 404 performs correction such as known shading correctionon the image data.

A detection result obtained by the opening-closing detection sensor 217is input to the CPU 401. FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating aconfiguration for detecting an angle of the pressing plate 18 withrespect to the reading apparatus 202 with the opening-closing detectionsensor 217. FIG. 5A is a perspective diagram illustrating aconfiguration of the reading apparatus 202. FIG. 5B is a diagramillustrating a configuration of the opening-closing detection sensor217. FIG. 5C is a table illustrating a relationship between the outputof the opening-closing detection sensor 217 and the angle of thepressing plate 18 with respect to the reading apparatus 202.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the opening-closing detection sensor 217 fordetecting the angle of the pressing plate 18 with respect to the readingapparatus 202 is disposed on the reading apparatus 202. As illustratedin FIG. 5B, the opening-closing detection sensor 217 includesphotosensors 218 and 219 and a flag 220. Each of the photosensors 218and 219 includes a light emitting portion for emitting light and a lightreceiving portion for receiving light. As illustrated in FIG. 5B-1 , theflag 220 protrudes from the upper surface of the reading apparatus 202when the pressing plate 18 (document feeding apparatus 201) is at anopening position. In a state illustrated in FIG. 5B-1 , a high-level (H)signal is input to the CPU 401 from each of the photosensors 218 and219.

When the user closes the pressing plate 18 partway, the pressing plate18 presses the flag 220 downward. As a result, the flag 220 ispositioned between the light emitting portion and the light receivingportion of the photosensor 218, and a level of the signal input to theCPU 401 from the photosensor 218 becomes low (L). When the user furthercloses the pressing plate 18, the pressing plate 18 further presses theflag 220 downward. As a result, the flag 220 is positioned between thelight emitting portion and the light receiving portion of thephotosensor 219, and a level of the signal input to the CPU 401 from thephotosensor 219 becomes low (L).

The CPU 401 makes determination illustrated in FIG. 5C based on thesignals received from the photosensors 218 and 219. More specifically,in a case where both of the signals received from the photosensors 218and 219 are “L (OFF)”, the CPU 401 determines that an angle θ of thepressing plate 18 with respect to the reading apparatus 202 is greaterthan 25°. In a case where the signal received from the photosensor 218is “H (ON)” and the signal received from the photosensor 219 is “L(OFF)”, the CPU 401 determines that the angle θ of the pressing plate 18with respect to the reading apparatus 202 is greater than 5° and lessthan or equal to 25°.

In a case where both of the signals received from the photosensors 218and 219 are “H (ON)”, the CPU 401 determines that the angle θ of thepressing plate 18 with respect to the reading apparatus 202 is greaterthan or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 5°. Hereinafter, a statewhere the angle θ is greater than 25° is called “opening state”, a statewhere the angle θ is greater than 5° and less than or equal to 25° iscalled “partly closed state”, and a state where the angle θ is greaterthan or equal to 0° and less than or equal to 5° is called “closedstate”.

A detection result obtained by the document size detection sensor 216 isinput to the CPU 401. In a case where the pressing plate reading methodis performed, the CPU 401 determines the size of the document based on adetection result obtained by the document size detection sensor 216 anda reading result obtained by the reading unit 16.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining the size ofa document placed on the document positioning glass plate 214. Theprocessing illustrated in this flowchart is performed by the CPU 401. Asize (fixed size) specified by the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS)is detected through the size detection.

In step S101, in response to the opening state of the pressing plate 18being detected (YES in step S101), the processing proceeds to step S102.In step S102, the CPU 401 controls the motor 222 to move the readingunit 16 to a detection position. Thus, the reading unit 16 is moved tothe lower side of the document positioning glass plate 214. Examples ofthe detection position include a position shifted toward the documentsize detection sensor 216 by 50 mm from the first abutting portion 223indicated in FIG. 5A. The first abutting portion 223 refers to a portionon which one end of a document in the sub-scanning direction abuts whenthe user places the document on the document positioning glass plate214. The reading apparatus 202 also has a second abutting portion 221 onwhich another end of the document in a main scanning direction abutswhen the user places the document on the document positioning glassplate 214. The user positions the document to be placed on the documentpositioning glass plate 214 by making the document abut on the firstabutting portion 223 and the second abutting portion 221. Here, in astand-by state, the reading unit 16 is located between the documentpositioning glass plate 214 and the reading glass 108 in thesub-scanning direction, for example.

Next, in step S103, the CPU 401 acquires a detection result from thedocument size detection sensor 216 and stores the detection result in amemory (not illustrated).

In step S104, in response to a closed state of the pressing plate 18being detected (YES in step S104), the processing proceeds to step S105.In step S105, the CPU 401 turns on the LED 110 disposed on the readingunit 16.

Thereafter, in step S106, the CPU 401 performs document size detectionprocessing. The document size detection processing will be describedbelow.

In step S107, the CPU 401 turns off the LED 110 disposed on the readingunit 16. Then in step S108, the CPU 401 controls the motor 222 to movethe reading unit 16 to a stand-by position.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed in step S106(document size detection processing) of the flowchart in FIG. 6 . Theprocessing illustrated in this flowchart is performed by the CPU 401.

In step S201, the CPU 401 acquires a detection result 51 obtained by thedocument size detection sensor 216 and stores the detection result 51 ina memory (not illustrated).

Thereafter, in step S202, the CPU 401 controls the motor 222 to move thereading unit 16 from the detection position to the stand-by position.The reading unit 16 reads (scans) a document placed on the documentpositioning glass plate 214 while being moved from the detectionposition to the stand-by position.

In step S203, based on the image acquired by the reading unit 16 in stepS202, the CPU 401 calculates (determines) a length of the document inthe main scanning direction placed on the document positioning glassplate 214. More specifically, the CPU 401 determines, for example, aposition of one end opposite to another end abutting on the secondabutting portion 221 from among the ends of the document placed on thedocument positioning glass plate 214, based on the image acquired by thereading unit 16 in step S202. The CPU 401 determines a length from thedetermined position of the one end to the second abutting portion 221 inthe main scanning direction to be a length of the document in the mainscanning direction placed on the document positioning glass plate 214.

In step S204, the CPU 401 determines the size of the document.

FIG. 8 is a table illustrating a method for detecting a document size.In a case where a document is present above the document size detectionsensor 216 in the sub-scanning direction, values of the detectionresults S1 and S0 are the same. On the other hand, in a case where thedocument is not present above the document size detection sensor 216 inthe sub-scanning direction, values of the detection results S1 and S0are different. This situation occurs because of the following reasons.When the pressing plate 18 is open without the document above thedocument size detection sensor 216 in the sub-scanning direction, lightemitted from the light emitting portion of the document size detectionsensor 216 is not incident on the light receiving portion. On the otherhand, when the pressing plate 18 is closed with the document above thedocument size detection sensor 216 in the sub-scanning direction, lightemitted from the light emitting portion of the document size detectionsensor 216 is reflected on the pressing plate 18 and incident on thelight receiving portion. Thus, in a case where the document is notpresent above the document size detection sensor 216 in the sub-scanningdirection, values of the detection results S1 and S0 are different.

The CPU 401 determines a length of the document in the sub-scanningdirection as “Large” in a case where values of the detection results S0and S1 are the same, and determines a length of the document in thesub-scanning direction as “Small” in a case where values of thedetection results S0 and S1 are different. The CPU 401 determines, basedon this determination result and the length in the main scanningdirection determined based on the image acquired by the reading unit 16in step S202, the size of the document according to the table in FIG. 8.

[Reading Mode]

Reading modes of the reading apparatus 202 according to the presentexemplary embodiment will now be described. The reading apparatus 202according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a normal scanningmode, a first multi-cropping mode, and a second multi-cropping mode asthe reading modes of the pressing plate reading method. For example, theuser can set a reading mode using the operation unit 403.

<Normal Scanning Mode>

In response to the user inputting an instruction to start reading of adocument with the normal scanning mode set, the CPU 401 controls themotor 222 to move the reading unit 16 in the sub-scanning direction.More specifically, the CPU 401 moves the reading unit 16 by a length, inthe sub-scanning direction, corresponding to the size determined throughthe size detection processing. The reading unit 16 reads an image of adocument placed on the document positioning glass plate 214 while movingin the sub-scanning direction.

The CPU 401 generates an image file based on a reading result obtainedby the reading unit 16, and outputs the image file to an apparatusexternal to the image forming apparatus 100 (such an external apparatusincludes a smartphone, a PC, and a tablet apparatus). The image size ofthe image file is the size determined through the size detectionprocessing.

<First Multi-Cropping Mode>

The first multi-cropping mode is now described. In the firstmulti-cropping mode, the reading apparatus 202 collectively reads aplurality of documents placed on the document positioning glass plate214, extracts images of the documents from a read image, and generatesan image file for the respective images of the documents.

[Edge Detection for Image]

In the first multi-cropping mode, the CPU 401 detects candidates for anedge of each image included in a read image. In the processing fordetecting an edge of each image, for example, a known method using adifferential filter, such as the Canny method, is used.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are diagrams illustrating the processing for detecting anedge of the respective images. FIG. 9A illustrates a read image of threedocuments placed on the document positioning glass plate 214. The readimage in FIG. 9A is acquired when the documents 1, 2, and 3 placed onthe document positioning glass plate 214 are read collectively. FIG. 9Bis a diagram illustrating an image which is acquired when edge detectionprocessing is performed on the image illustrated in FIG. 9A. Asillustrated in FIG. 9B, performing the edge detection processing detectsalso edges of objects in the documents 1, 2, and 3 in addition to theedges of the documents 1, 2, and 3.

[Processing for Detecting Candidate for Edge of Document]

Next, the CPU 401 performs, on the images of the detected edges, imageprocessing employing a known method such as an edge tracking method fordetecting an independent area by tracking a connection between edgepixels or Hough transformation method for detecting a candidate for astraight line from an edge image.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the processing for detectinga candidate for an edge of a document. FIG. 10A illustrates an edge of adocument D and edges of objects X, Y, and Z included in the document Ddetected with the edge tracking method. FIG. 10B illustrates an imagewhich is acquired when the Hough transformation is performed on thedetected edges. The X direction corresponds to the main scanningdirection, and the Y direction corresponds to the sub-scanningdirection. In the processing for detecting a candidate for an edge of adocument, the contour of a square area having an edge formed by fourstraight lines is determined to be a candidate for the edge of thedocument. For example, in FIG. 10B, the edge of the object Y and theedge of the document D are determined to be edge candidates for thedocument. Through these processes, edge candidates 1 to 4 for thedocuments 1 to 3 as illustrated in FIG. 9C are determined.

[Processing for Determining Edge of Document]

FIGS. 11A to 11D are diagrams illustrating processing for determiningthe edge of a document. FIG. 11A illustrates candidates a, b, c, and das candidates for edges of documents. Hereinafter, although theprocessing that the CPU 401 performs on the candidate a will bedescribed, the CPU 401 performs the below-described processing on eachof the candidates.

As illustrated in FIG. 11B, the CPU 401 calculates a length (width) W inthe X direction and a length L in the Y direction of the candidate a. Ina case where the candidate a satisfies at least any one of conditionsthat the width W is less than a predetermined width W0 and that thelength L is less than a predetermined length L0, the CPU 401 determinesthat the candidate a is not the contour of a document.

In contrast to this, in a case where the candidate a does not satisfyboth of the conditions that the width W is less than the predeterminedwidth W0 and that the length L is less than the predetermined length L0,the CPU 401 performs the following processing. The CPU 401 determineswhether the candidate a is present within an area surrounded by any ofthe candidates b, c, and d. More specifically, for example, the CPU 401determines whether four vertexes of the candidate a is present within anarea surrounded by any of the candidates b, c, and d (i.e., whether thearea surrounded by the candidate a overlaps with at least any one of theareas surrounded by the other candidates b, c, and d). For example, in acase where the read image is an image illustrated in FIG. 11C, the CPU401 determines that the candidate a is the edge of the document becausenone of the four vertexes of the candidate a is present within the areasurrounded by any one of the other candidates b, c, and d.

In contrast to this, in a case the read image is such an image asillustrated in FIG. 11D, the candidate a cannot be determined to be theedge of the document because one of the vertexes of the candidate a ispresent within the area surrounded by the candidate d. Through thisprocessing, in the image illustrated in FIG. 9C, the edge candidate 4 isnot determined to be the edge of the document, and edge candidates 1, 2,and 3 are determined to be the edges of the documents.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the first multi-cropping modeaccording to the present exemplary embodiment. The processingillustrated in this flowchart is performed by the CPU 401. Theprocessing illustrated in the flowchart is started in response to theCPU 401 receiving an instruction to start reading of a document in astate where the first multi-cropping mode is selected.

In step S301, the CPU 401 moves the reading unit 16 to scan a readablearea that is readable by the reading unit 16. The reading unit 16 readsimages of a plurality of documents placed on the document positioningglass plate 214 while moving in the sub-scanning direction. For example,the size of the readable area is greater than or equal to a maximum size(e.g., A3-size) among a fixed-size document which can be placed on andfit into the document positioning glass plate 214. Further, the size ofthe readable area is smaller than or equal to the size of the placementsurface (i.e., a surface on which a document is placed) of the documentpositioning glass plate 214. As an example, FIG. 2 illustrates areadable area 250 and an A3-size document P that is positioned by beingmade to abut on the first abutting portion 223 and the second abuttingportion 221 on the document positioning glass plate 214.

Next in step S302, the CPU 401 generates an image file (see FIG. 9A)including images of a plurality of documents placed on the documentpositioning glass plate 214, based on the reading result obtained by thereading unit 16.

In step S303, the CPU 401 then performs the processing for detectingedges of the images from the image of the image file generated in stepS302.

In step S304, the CPU 401 then performs the processing for determining(detecting) candidates for the edges of the documents. The CPU 401stores the detected candidates for the edges of the documents in amemory (not illustrated).

In step S305, if no candidates for the edges of the documents isdetected (NO in step S305), the CPU 401 ends the processing of thisflowchart.

In step S305, if a candidate for the edges of the documents is present(YES in step S305), the processing proceeds to step S306. In step S306,the CPU 401 performs the processing for determining the edges of thedocuments.

In step S307, the CPU 401 cuts out images based on the edges of thedocuments determined in step S306. Further, the CPU 401 rotates thecut-out images, generates image files, and outputs the image files tothe apparatus external to the image forming apparatus 100 (such anexternal apparatus includes a smartphone, a PC, or a tablet apparatus).The images of the documents are generated as separate image files asillustrated in FIG. 9D. The CPU 401 may cut out the images afterrotating the images.

[Second Multi-Cropping Mode]

Next, the second multi-cropping mode will be described. In the presentexemplary embodiment, by applying the following configuration as thesecond multi-cropping mode, an image reading apparatus capable of easilycutting out images of documents from an image including the images ofthe documents is provided. Hereinafter, the second multi-cropping modewill be described using a case where a transparent document folder of apredetermined size that holds a plurality of documents is used. Whilethe predetermined size described in the present exemplary embodimentcorresponds to an A4-size, the predetermined size may be a sizecorresponding to a B5-size or a legal-size. Examples of the plurality ofdocuments include a receipt, a sales slip, and a sticky note.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an area on which the processing fordetermining an edge of a document is to be performed. FIG. 13illustrates an image read by the reading unit 16 in a state where atransparent document folder holding documents 1, 2, and 3 is placed onthe document positioning glass plate 214 with the transparent documentfolder abutting on the first abutting portion 223 and the secondabutting portion 221.

In the second multi-cropping mode according to the present exemplaryembodiment, processing for determining an edge of a document isperformed on an image included in an area corresponding to thetransparent document folder (i.e., the area surrounded by a dashed line,which excludes the shaded area in FIG. 13 ). The area corresponding tothe transparent document folder corresponds to, for example, an areawhere the transparent document folder is present when the transparentdocument folder is positioned with the aid of the first abutting portion223 and the second abutting portion 221 and is placed on the documentpositioning glass plate 214. Further, the area corresponding to thetransparent document folder corresponds to an area that excludes oneedge opposite to another edge abutting on the first abutting portion 223from among the edges in the main scanning direction of the transparentdocument folder having been positioned. Furthermore, the areacorresponding to the transparent document folder corresponds to an areathat excludes one edge opposite to another edge abutting on the secondabutting portion 221 from among the edges in the sub-scanning directionof the transparent document folder having been positioned. In otherwords, the area corresponding to the transparent document folder has alength shorter than a length of the transparent document folder by apredetermined margin d in the main scanning direction and a lengthshorter than a length of the transparent document folder by apredetermined margin d in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the second multi-cropping modeaccording to the present exemplary embodiment. The processingillustrated in this flowchart is performed by the CPU 401. Theprocessing of this flowchart is started in response to the CPU 401receiving an instruction to start reading of a document with the secondmulti-cropping mode set.

The operations in steps S401 and S402 are similar to those in steps S301and S302 in FIG. 12 , so that descriptions thereof are omitted.

In step S403, the CPU 401 determines an area on which the edge detectionprocessing is to be performed, as illustrated in FIG. 13 .

The operations in steps S404 to S408 are similar to those in steps S303to S307 in FIG. 12 , so that descriptions thereof are omitted.

As described above, in the second multi-cropping mode according to thepresent exemplary embodiment, the processing for determining an edge ofa document is performed on the image included in the area correspondingto the transparent document folder (i.e., the area surrounded by adashed line, which excludes the shaded area in FIG. 13 ). This makes itpossible to prevent images of a plurality of documents from being outputas a single image, which is caused by an image being cut out based onthe edge of the transparent document folder. Thus, individual images ofa plurality of documents can be cut out from the image that includes theplurality of images of the documents read by using the transparentdocument folder. In other words, it is possible to provide an imagereading apparatus capable of easily cutting out individual images ofdocuments from an image including the images of the documents.

The operation unit 403 may issue a notification that prompts the user toplace the transparent document folder on the document positioning glassplate 214 and make the transparent document folder abut on the firstabutting portion 223 and the second abutting portion 221, in response tothe second multi-cropping mode being selected via the operation unit403.

The area corresponding to the transparent document folder may correspondto an area excluding both of one edge abutting on the first abuttingportion 223 and another edge opposite to the one edge from among theedges in the main scanning direction of the transparent document folderhaving been positioned. The area corresponding to the transparentdocument folder may also correspond to an area excluding both of oneedge abutting on the second abutting portion 221 and another edgeopposite to the one edge from among the edges in the sub-scanningdirection of the transparent document folder having been positioned.

In the second multi-cropping mode according to the present exemplaryembodiment, detection of an image edge, detection of a document edgecandidate, and determination of a document edge are performed after adetection area is determined. The present exemplary embodiment is notlimited thereto. For example, the area for determination of the documentedge may be determined after detection of the image edge is performed.In other words, detection of the image edge is performed on a read imageof the entire readable area 250. Thus, an edge of the transparentdocument folder is detected as the image edge.

Detection of the document edge candidate and determination of thedocument edge may be performed on the image included in the areacorresponding to the transparent document folder (i.e., the areasurrounded by a dashed line, which excludes the shaded area in FIG. 13).

For example, an area for determination of the document edge may bedetermined after detection of the image edge and detection of thedocument edge candidate are performed. In other words, detection of theimage edge and detection of the document edge candidate are performed ona read image of the entire readable area 250. Thus, an edge of thetransparent document folder is detected as the document edge candidate.Determination of the document edge may be performed on the imageincluded in the area corresponding to the transparent document folder(i.e., the area surrounded by a dashed line, which excludes the shadedarea in FIG. 13 ).

In the present exemplary embodiment, a description has been providedusing a case where the transparent document folder is used. In anotherexemplary embodiment, any holding member that has a transparent portionand is capable of holding a document may be used. The transparentdocument folder is included in the holding member.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed below. Descriptions of configurations of the image formingapparatus 100 similar to those described in the first exemplaryembodiment will be omitted.

<Second Multi-Cropping Mode>

The second multi-cropping mode according to a second exemplaryembodiment will be described. In the present exemplary embodiment, ascreen for setting the size of the transparent document folder isdisplayed on the operation unit 403 in response to the secondmulti-cropping mode being selected by the user.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a screen for setting the size in thesecond multi-cropping mode.

The user can select the size of the transparent document folder based onthe screen illustrated in FIG. 15 . While options, such as “A4-sizeTransparent Document Folder” and “B5-size Transparent Document Folder”,are displayed on the screen in FIG. 15 , other options of other sizes,such as “Legal-size Transparent Document Folder”, may also be displayedthereon. Hereinafter, a description will be provided of a case where“A4-size Transparent Document Folder” is selected.

The CPU 401 determines an area on which the edge detection processing isto be performed based on the size set by the user using the screenillustrated in FIG. 15 . More specifically, the processing fordetermining an edge of a document is performed on the image included inthe area corresponding to the A4-size transparent document folder (i.e.,the area surrounded by a dashed line, which excludes the shaded area inFIG. 13 ), as described in the first exemplary embodiment.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, inresponse to the second multi-cropping mode being selected by the user, ascreen for setting the size of the transparent document folder isdisplayed on the operation unit 403. The CPU 401 then determines an areaon which the edge detection processing is to be performed based on thesize set by the user using the screen in FIG. 15 . Thus, the processingfor determining the edge of the document is performed on the imageincluded in the area corresponding to the transparent document folder.This makes is possible to prevent images of a plurality of documentsfrom being output as a single image, which is caused by an image beingcut out based on the edge of the transparent document folder. Further,the individual images of the plurality of documents can be cut out fromthe image that includes the images of the plurality of documents read byusing the transparent document folder. In other words, it is possible toprovide an image reading apparatus capable of easily cutting outindividual images of documents from an image including the images of thedocuments.

The area on which the edge detection processing is to be performed maybe determined based on the size determined through the methodillustrated in FIG. 6 , described in conjunction with the firstexemplary embodiment.

A third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedbelow. Descriptions of configurations of the image forming apparatus 100similar to those described in the first exemplary embodiment will beomitted.

<Second Multi-Cropping Mode>

The second multi-cropping mode according to the present exemplaryembodiment will be described. Hereinafter, a description will beprovided of a case where a transparent document folder of apredetermined size that holds a plurality of documents is used. Whilethe predetermined size described in the present exemplary embodimentcorresponds to an A4-size, the predetermined size may be a B5-size, alegal-size, and the like.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state where a transparent documentfolder is placed on the document positioning glass plate 214 with thetransparent document folder abutting on the first abutting portion 223and the second abutting portion 221. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the CPU 401 controls the reading unit 16 and the motor 222to read only the area surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 16 .

More specifically, the CPU 401 controls the reading unit 16 and themotor 222 to read only an area corresponding to the transparent documentfolder in the sub-scanning direction. Yet more specifically, forexample, the CPU 401 moves the reading unit 16 rightward in FIG. 16 fromthe first abutting portion 223. The CPU 401 stops the reading unit 16 ata position (stopping position) on the left side of one edge opposite toanother edge abutting on the first abutting portion 223, from among theedges in the main scanning direction of the transparent document folderhaving been positioned. In other words, the CPU 401 controls the readingunit 16 to read an image of a section ranging from an edge position ofthe transparent document folder abutting on the first abutting portion223 to the stopping position. The CPU 401 controls the reading unit 16to read only an area corresponding to the transparent document folder inthe main scanning direction. More specifically, the CPU 401 controls thereading unit 16 to read an area having a length shorter than a length ofthe transparent document folder in the main scanning direction. In otherwords, in the present exemplary embodiment, a reading area read by thereading unit 16 has a length shorter than a length of the transparentdocument folder by a predetermined margin d in the main scanningdirection and a length shorter than a length of the transparent documentfolder by a predetermined margin d in the sub-scanning direction.

The CPU 401 performs the processing for determining an edge of adocument on the read image.

As described above, the CPU 401 controls the reading unit 16 and themotor 222 to read only the area corresponding to the transparentdocument folder in the present exemplary embodiment. The processing fordetermining an edge of a document is then performed on the read image.Thus, the processing for determining an edge of a document is performedon the image included in the area corresponding to the transparentdocument folder. This makes it possible to possible to prevent images ofa plurality of documents from being output as a single image, which iscaused by an image being cut out based on the edge of the transparentdocument folder. Further, the individual images of the plurality ofdocuments can be cut out from the image that includes the images of theplurality of documents read by using the transparent document folder. Inother words, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatuscapable of easily cutting out individual images of documents from animage including the images of the documents

A moving distance of the reading unit 16 in the present exemplaryembodiment is shorter than a moving distance thereof in reading theentire readable area 250. Thus, readout time in the filed documentmulti-cropping mode (i.e., second multi-cropping mode) can be reduced tobe shorter than readout time in the normal multi-cropping mode (i.e.,first multi-cropping mode). Therefore, it is possible to improve theproductivity of the image reading apparatus.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the CPU 401 controls the readingunit 16 to read only the area corresponding to the transparent documentfolder in the main scanning direction. However, the present exemplaryembodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the CPU 401 may controlthe reading unit 16 to read an area corresponding to the length of theimage sensor 111.

In response to the second multi-cropping mode being selected by theuser, the screen for the user to set the size of a transparent documentfolder illustrated in FIG. 15 may be displayed on the operation unit403. The CPU 401 may control the reading area of the reading unit 16through the above-described method based on the size set by the userusing the screen in FIG. 15 .

A fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed. Descriptions of the configurations of the image formingapparatus 100 similar to those described in the first exemplaryembodiment will be omitted.

<Second Multi-Cropping Mode>

The second multi-cropping mode according to the present exemplaryembodiment will be described. In the present exemplary embodiment, thescreen for the user to set the size of a transparent document folderillustrated in FIG. 15 is displayed on the operation unit 403 when thesecond multi-cropping mode is selected by the user, as in the secondexemplary embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be provided of acase where “A4-size Transparent Document Folder” is selected.

FIGS. 17A to 17C are diagrams illustrating processing for determining anedge of a document. In the present exemplary embodiment, the readablearea 250 is read by the reading unit 16. FIG. 17A illustrates an imageread by the reading unit 16 in a state where a transparent documentfolder holding documents 1, 2, and 3 is placed on the documentpositioning glass plate 214 with the transparent document folderabutting on the first abutting portion 223 and the second abuttingportion 221. FIG. 17A illustrates a state where the document 3 partlylies off the transparent document folder.

In the second multi-cropping mode according to the present exemplaryembodiment, the processing for detecting an image edge is performed onan image included in the readable area 250. Thus, edges of the documents1 to 3, edges of images included in the documents 1 to 3, and an edge ofthe transparent document folder are detected as illustrated in FIG. 17A.

Thereafter, the CPU 401 masks an image corresponding to the edge of thetransparent document folder having a size corresponding to the size setby the user. More specifically, the CPU 401 deletes an image (i.e.,whitens the pixels) corresponding to the edge of the transparentdocument folder of the size set by the user, for example.

As a result, an image illustrated in FIG. 17B is generated.Specifically, the edge of the document 3 is discontinued.

The CPU 401 then interpolates the edge of the document 3 through a knownmethod, such as the morphology transformation. Thus, an imageillustrated in FIG. 17C is generated. As a result, only the edge of thetransparent document folder is deleted.

Thereafter, the CPU 401 performs, on the image illustrated in FIG. 17C,detection of a document edge candidate and determination of a documentedge described in the first exemplary embodiment.

The above-described configuration enables appropriate cut out ofdocuments even if a document partly lies off the transparent documentfolder.

The configurations according to the first to the fourth exemplaryembodiments are also applicable to a sheet (mount) on which a pluralityof documents is mounted.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an imagereading apparatus capable of easily cutting out individual images ofdocuments from an image that includes the individual images of thedocuments.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2021-199624, filed Dec. 8, 2021, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: atransparent member having a placement surface on which a document is tobe placed; a reading unit configured to read an image of the documentplaced on the transparent member via the transparent member; and atleast one processor configured to: detect an edge in an image acquiredby the reading unit in a reading mode, and extract an image surroundedby an edge, detected in an area surrounded by an edge corresponding to aholding member, in the reading mode, wherein the holding member has atransparent portion and the document to be read is placed in the holdingmember so as to be visible via the transparent portion, and the holdingmember is placed on the placement surface with the transparent portionof the holding member in contact with the placement surface.
 2. Theimage reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading modeis a first reading mode, wherein the at least one processor includes asecond reading mode in which images of a plurality of documents placedon the placement surface, via the holding member, are read, wherein theat least one processor is further configured to: detect edges in animage acquired by the reading unit in the second reading mode, andextract images surrounded by the detected edges in the second readingmode.
 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, inthe second reading mode, the at least one processor extracts an imagesurrounded by an outermost edge including a plurality of areassurrounded by the detected edges.
 4. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the reading unit includes a light sourceconfigured to emit light and a reading sensor configured to receivelight emitted from the light source and reflected on the document,wherein the reading unit reads the image of the document placed on theplacement surface, via the holding member, while moving the light sourcein a predetermined direction, wherein the at least one processoracquires size information corresponding to a size of the holding memberin the reading mode, and wherein the at least one processor controls thereading unit to move the light source by a distance corresponding to thesize of the holding member in the predetermined direction indicated bythe acquired size information.
 5. The image reading apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the reading unit includes a light source configuredto emit light and a reading sensor configured to receive light emittedfrom the light source and reflected on the document, wherein the readingunit reads the image of the document placed on the placement surfacewhile moving the light source in a first direction, wherein the imagereading apparatus further comprises: a first positioning portion withwhich positioning of the holding member in the first direction isperformed by one end of the holding member in the first direction beingcaused to abut on the first positioning portion, a second positioningportion with which positioning of the holding member in a seconddirection orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to theplacement surface is performed by one end of the holding member in thesecond direction being caused to abut on the second positioning portion,and a communication unit configured to issue a notification prompting auser to make the holding member abut on the first positioning portionand the second positioning portion in the reading mode.
 6. The imagereading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is atransparent document folder.
 7. The image reading apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein, in the reading mode, the at least one processordetects the edge in the image which has been subjected to masking of theedge corresponding to the holding member, and wherein, in the readingmode, the at least one processor extracts the image surrounded by theedge detected in the image having been subjected to the masking of theedge corresponding to the holding member.
 8. An image reading apparatuscomprising: a transparent member having a placement surface on which adocument is to be placed; a reading unit configured to read an image ofthe document placed on the transparent member via the transparentmember; and at least one processor configured to: detect an edge in animage acquired by the reading unit in a reading mode, and extract animage surrounded by an edge, detected in an area surrounded by an edgecorresponding to a mount in the reading mode, wherein the mount has aplurality of documents to be read mounted thereon and is placed on theplacement surface with a surface of the mount on which the plurality ofdocuments is mounted in contact with the placement surface.
 9. The imagereading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the reading mode is afirst reading mode, wherein the at least one processor includes a secondreading mode in which images of a plurality of documents mounted on themount placed on the placement surface are read, wherein the at least oneprocessor is further configured to: detect edges in an image acquired bythe reading unit in the second reading mode, and extract imagessurrounded by the detected edges in the second reading mode.
 10. Theimage reading apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, in the secondreading mode, the at least one processor extracts an image surrounded byan outermost edge including a plurality of areas surrounded by thedetected edges.
 11. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the reading unit includes a light source configured to emitlight and a reading sensor configured to receive light emitted from thelight source and reflected on the document, wherein the reading unitreads the images of the plurality of documents mounted on the mountplaced on the placement surface while moving the light source in apredetermined direction, wherein the at least one processor acquiressize information corresponding to a size of the mount in the readingmode, and wherein the at least one processor controls the reading unitto move the light source by a distance corresponding to the size of themount in the predetermined direction indicated by the acquired sizeinformation.
 12. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the reading unit includes a light source configured to emitlight and a reading sensor configured to receive light emitted from thelight source and reflected on the document, wherein the reading unitreads the images of the plurality of documents mounted on the mountplaced on the placement surface while moving the light source in a firstdirection, wherein the image reading apparatus further comprises: afirst positioning portion with which positioning of the mount in thefirst direction is performed by one end of the mount in the firstdirection being caused to abut on the first positioning portion, asecond positioning portion with which positioning of the mount in asecond direction orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to theplacement surface is performed by one end of the mount in the seconddirection being caused to abut on the second positioning portion, and acommunication unit configured to issue a notification prompting a userto make the mount abut on the first positioning portion and the secondpositioning portion in the reading mode.
 13. The image reading apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein, in the reading mode, the at least oneprocessor detects the edge in the image which has been subjected tomasking of the edge corresponding to the mount, and wherein, in thereading mode, the at least one processor extracts the image surroundedby the edge detected in the image having been subjected to the maskingof the edge corresponding to the mount.